The Best Ginger Cookie Ever!

Crackled sugary surface, moist and chewy centre, and the warming zing of ginger make this one a winner.
I have made it twice and loved it each time.

2 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
2 3/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp table salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup plus 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1/4 cup molasses
3 tbs finely chopped crystalized ginger

Position racks in upper and lower thirds of a 350 degree preheated oven.

In medium bowl whisk flour, powder ginger, baking soda and salt. In large bowl beat butter and 1 cup sugar until well blended (with a hand mixer). Add egg, molasses, and crystallized ginger;beat well. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed until well blended.

Pour remaining 1/3 cup of sugar in bowl. Use a tablespoon sized scoop to portion out cookie dough, then roll in sugar and place 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheets.

Bake rotating sheets halfway through baking until cookies are puffed and bottoms are slightly brown, 12 to 14 minutes

--Fine Cooking Magazine, December 2006, no. 82

Christmas All Wrapped Up

Big job, but I have finished. All presents are wrapped. I don't know how Santa does it. My goal next year is absolutely all online purchases. It is just so easy. When you have two kids to get in and out of vehicles, and you need to go to multiple stores each day, it is the best way to go.

Can't wait till the kids open their pressies. I think tht is my most enjopyable moment.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Turducken, Turducken...

What a big week. I finished the canvas and passed it on to my friend. Hope she was being honest and liked it. She made Turducken, a chicken in a duck in a turkey with stuffing. It was really yummy. Lots of other food to be had that night too--curried carrot and parsip soup, lamb shanks (braised), ground lamb bites with sweet potato puree, root veggies roasted including beets, wilten mixed greens, chocolate mousse for dessert. She went to a lot of trouble. Our friend Billy, her husband, de-boned. Crazy work required to make one, but well worth it I thought. Though I would pay extra so the butcher could de-bone.

Enjoy the pics!

Picasso? Phew!

Done, well almost anyway. I am pleased with the way that it turned out. This is one of three commissioned so I have more work to do, but this was needed as a Christmas present. Best of all, the kids BOTH slept while I worked -- yay! Maybe I can jump back on the bandwagon to an artistic career after all.